I was thinking about how the western vic climbing club goes to araps a few times a year on their monthly base camps and everytime in between.. (This idea could apply to any club or persons in the same boat of course).

We constantly lug up camping equipment, firewood, tarps or fold-up shelters, tables and chairs etc. etc., most of the time leaving very little room for friends wanting to come along to save doing the "one person travelling thingy" or towing trailers for example. Not to mention that often, very annoying and embarrassing occurrence of forgetting something. Which was very bad for me when I forgot the tent one time. Unfortunately for me, it was my wife’s first trip away with me for months and the expectations of a good time were at an all time high!!. So I was thinking... What about a locker system at Araps or Nati where people could store their "camping shit" to avoid forgetting anything and freeing up valuable car space for other more important things like.... Beer? ....Whoops! I meant friends, more friends of course, both effectively equal good times don't they? and both at the same time? = sore heads and embarrassing stories the next day!.

We could all pitch in to give donations and it wouldn't cost a fortune to do, they could be set up near the dunnies or near the nati cafe/climbing shop and wouldn't need to be massive. On the down side, there would be the augment against having "double" items. Say the 'club trip' was at the gramps and all the gear is in storage at Araps. Some gear freaks may have 2 or 3 sets of everything already!!, but for most of us, it could be overcome with some careful planning to retrieve gear with the trailer or whatever in preparation for the upcoming trip. Besides a lot of us share food, cooking and kitchen equipment and climbing gear anyway, so it might just work!! On a personal note.... it would be nice to have my wife come up with me again.

Excellent idea!
Contact the Arapilies Easter Orientation Committee members Eduardo Slabofvic or simey (both who are locals and members of this forum), and I am sure they will see you right (shortman might be able to help out too with transporting stuff for you as he has plenty of old slackline for tying stuff down), due things have quietened down now after the busy season.
They may even host it in town to avoid potential vandalism, not that that would happen in a National Park like the Arapilies, where you would have to compete with others storing their stuff like matresses and pruning saws.

On 4/05/2014 wvccmem wrote:>We could all pitch in to give donations and it wouldn't cost a fortune>to do,
Maybe thinking about how the camp-fee model works at Arapiles will give you some idea of how your plan will work in reality.

>they could be set up near .... the nati climbing>shop
Let me know when you're going to suggest this to Phil and I'll bring popcorn.

You could have immedately recovered from from your 'very annoying and embarassing occurence' of forgetting the tent, by immediately sourcing nearby comfy accommodation in Natimuk.

Sydney Bush Walkers own a riverside property quite some way from Sydney. Can the WVCC do something with a tiny property very nearby to Araps?

What do you think of me storing ice-climbing gear below Mt Twynam, instead of skiing uphill into Blue Lake for camping and ice-climbing with a 28kg pack. Or leaving my XC ski gear in Cooma instead of taking it home - what if I can't get down there, then things fall into place and I get an invite to go on a ski trip to NZ?
What do you think of me storing a sea-kayak in Port Welshpool or Foster for the next time I think about doing a lap of Bass Strait? - but I live in the Blueys and would miss the much closer Sydney Harbour.
Your thoughts are appreciated about carting our outdoor gear around - but are nowhere near new, nor practical, with respect to Public Land.
Or otherwise; you are back at home, swept out your trailer and got your feet up in the loungeroom while some of us still don't have the border in sight.

On 4/05/2014 wvccmem wrote:>Hi Everyone,>>Thought I might try out an idea of mine with ya'll,>>I was thinking about how the western vic climbing club goes to araps a few times a year on their monthly base camps and everytime in between.>(This idea could apply to any club or persons in the same boat of course).>>We constantly lug up camping equipment, firewood, tarps or fold-up shelters, tables and chairs etc. etc., most of the time leaving very little room>for friends wanting to come along to save doing the "one person travelling thingy" or towing trailers for example. >

Hmm ... I have 2 suggestions. One is you just pack less stuff. Really, is it that hard to fit 3-4 people plus climbing and camping gear into the average car? My favourite was the girl's cross country ski trip I did 20 years ago where we have 5 of us in an old vw stationwagon, and I of course get stuck in the middle of the back seat with the skis running over my shoulder and into the front. I have very fond memories of cruising down the hume with loud music and coopers red despite the crowding. My other one is be organised. How to you pack for an international trip if you forget basics on a weekend trip to the mt? And how to you get all your climbing and camping gear into a 23kg luggage allowance? These seem way simpler and more practical and even rather useful skills to have than a locker system. Someone who didn't like it would just shove poo in it as they did the fee box anyway.